In addition to the National and European legislation on chemicals, the Department of Labour Inspection is aiming to achieve complete control of the dangerous substances (either on their own or in mixtures and in products) that are imported, exported and/or placed on the Cyprus market through the implementation of two International Conventions and the SAICM policy framework. The
Rotterdam Convention (PIC) controls the import and export of certain dangerous substances and mixtures and the
Stockholm Convention (POPs) controls the chemicals characterised as Persistent Organic Pollutants.
PIC Convention - Import and Export of Hazardous Chemicals
The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, known as "PIC Concention" entered into force on the 24th of February 2004.
The objectives of the Convention are:
- to promote shared responsibility and cooperative efforts among Parties in the international trade of certain hazardous chemicals in order to protect human health and the environment from potential harm,
- to contribute to the environmentally sound use of those hazardous chemicals, by facilitating information exchange about their characteristics, by providing for a national decision-making process on their import and export and by disseminating these decisions to Parties.
The Cyprus Government ratified the PIC Convention through the "Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade Ratifying Law of 2004" (Law 20 (III)/2004).
In addition, the European Union has adopted Regulation 649/2012/EC (replacing European Regulation 689/2008/EC) concerning the export and import of dangerous chemicals, in order to ratify the PIC Convention. The dangerous chemicals included in the PIC Convention are listed in Annex I (Part 3) of the set Regulation.
More information on the Convention website:
http://www.pic.int/
POPs Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
The Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) forms a framework, based on the precautionary principle, which seeks to guarantee the safe elimination of these substances, which are harmful to human health and the environment, as well as reductions in their production and use. The Convention covers 12 priority POPs, although the eventual long-term objective is to cover other substances.
Persistent organic pollutants are chemical substances that possess certain toxic properties and, unlike other pollutants, resist degradation. POPs are particularly harmful for human health and the environment. They accumulate in living organisms, are transported by air, water and migratory species and accumulate in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Pollution caused by POPs is a cross-border problem which makes international action is indispensable.
The Cyprus Government ratified the POPs Convention through the "Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Ratifying Law of 2004" (Law 42 (III)2004).
In addition, the European Union has adopted Regulation
No 850/2004/EC on persistent organic pollutants.
This 2004 Regulation specifically concerns the production, placing on the market, use, discharge and elimination of substances which are banned or restricted under the Stockholm Convention on POPs and seeks to establish, at European level, requirements for effective implementation of these two international agreements.
More information on the Convention website:
http://chm.pops.int/.
The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM)
The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is a policy framework to foster the sound management of chemicals. It was adopted by the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) on 6 February 2006 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
SAICM was developed by a multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral Preparatory Committee and supports the achievement of the goal agreed at the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development of ensuring that, by the year 2020, chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health.
More information can be found here.